Eternal Questions
Bobby E. Mills, PhD
Since time immemorial human beings have asked certain eternal questions; especially questions concerning the existence of God, and what is ultimately expected of human being sin life. That is, every individual must draw a circle around self in order to understand life,because every individual must come to know God for himself.
As a flawed “graveyard traveling” human being with many fallibilities, I was born in the South to a family with meager economic resources. Yet, by the grace of almighty God, I was the second “Black” individual to obtain a “PhD” degree in the field of sociology from Syracuse University. In my parents’ home and my grandparents’ homes it was always taught: “In this family, we will serve the LORD”. And, of course, I was glad when they said unto me “let us go into the House of the Lord”. For without a doubt, my life experiences have unequivocally taught me to know that: there is a God!
Listed below are some eternal questions that human beings have asked from the beginning of time:
Is there a God?
What is the meaning of life?
Is there predestination?
Is there life-after-death?
Even with my limited spiritual knowledge, and understanding of God, these are eternal questions that no individual can absolutely ever know, and of course, we do not need to absolutely know. If an individual did know the absolute answer to these questions then he/she would be as “GOD”. If we did, we would be God. Individuals can only know in part,because faith must be the cornerstone of our knowing and understanding. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6). The earthly connection between our faith and spiritual understanding is through “reading” the Holy Bible: “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.”(2 Peter3:18).
Human social behavioral patterns are conditioned by family structures, institutional churches,and educational institutions with many “strange and secular contestable variables” in-between. Of course, the unpredictable circumstances of human nature make life no crystal-stair; there are thorns and thistles everywhere.
Our educational and religious institutions ought to work together reinforcing; enhancing and edifying human thought processes that is “go together like hand and glove.” In too many instances pastoral leaders declare that an educated individual and spirituality do not integrate well in “any” social-spiritual-institutional-environments. (Reason being many pastoral leaders themselves are not educated in the Biblical procedures of church polity). “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17). This scripture is precisely why education and Christianity go hand and hand: “Blessed is he that readeth…”(Revelation 1: 3). Allow me to paraphrase: “Hide God’s word in the heart of your mind in order that you might not sin against God.” (Psalms 119: 11).
Question: how do we achieve Jesus’ declaration that earth and heaven can be on one accord,when we do the “Will of God”. Obviously, the only way earth and heaven can become one is by “hearing the Word of God, reading the Bible with spiritual clarity, and growing in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”. And, of course, individuals must spiritually desire understanding of this scripture: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17).
God says he knew you before you were conceived in your mother’s womb (your Garden of Eden), but that’s God. With human beings, life begins in the family structure between a man and a woman (married or un-married), not same-sex. Society begins in the family context.
All Americans must clearly understand this scripture. “For God is not the author of confusion,but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” (1 Corinthians 14:33). Therefore, our earthly question is: how do we live in peace and harmony both spiritually and materially within our three basic institutions: family, church and education?
What will help Americans learn how to effectively deal with eternal questions is enumerated below:
American family units must re-orient themselves toward spiritualism rather than materialism, because family is a spiritual unit, not an economic unit. Money and income does not satisfy “lovers of money”, but there is great gain in godliness with spiritual contentment. Individuals who love money will never be satisfied with money.Individuals come into the world with nothing, and your “family” will not allow you to take anything out.
Institutional Christianity (local-churches) must foster stewardship (train and develop)godly pastoral leaders rather than promote celebrity-style-worldly-preacher-vanity.
Educational institutions must foster creative learning processes by teaching individual show to spiritually think, not how to obtain a degree without having spiritual-common-sense.
God desires that all individuals come to a spiritual understanding in life; whereby they can say unequivocally: yes LORD, “not my will, but thine will be done.” I have not “thoroughly”answered these eternal questions; not even for myself, but I trust that I have shed some spiritual light on these eternal questions in the context of being an earthly dweller with a heavenly mind. Lest we forget: “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” (Psalms 7:11). To be sure, individuals cannot throw bricks and at the same time hide their hands, because your sins will find you out. Selah!
